Migrant Numbers at US-Mexico Border Drops After Joe Biden Implements Deportation Policy
Joe Biden's new policy of deporting migrants seems to be working as the number of people trying to cross the US-Mexico border seems to have dropped dramatically, especially among Venezuelans.
The Biden administration has started deporting some migrants directly to Venezuela, which is facing massive socio-economic and political crises. This may have deterred a few more migrants as their numbers have dropped, especially with Venezuelans who are afraid of going back to their beleaguered country.
According to CBS News, Border Patrol agents apprehended 29,637 Venezuelan migrants illegally entering the US last month. This is a significant 46% drop from last September, which saw unlawful crossings by Venezuelans soar to 54,833.
The deportation order began last October after an agreement was reached with the Venezuelan government, which has long refused to accept the return of its citizens trying to flee its oppressive regime. The ones getting deported are those e found to be ineligible for asylum or temporary legal status.
The first deportation flight back to Venezuela was conducted last October 18, with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement then carrying out weekly deportation flights since. Hundreds of Venezuelan adults have since been deported back to their country.
Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller announced the decrease in arrivals along the US-Mexico border after the deportation flights started.
"In conjunction with our resumption of removal flights to Venezuela consistent with delivering consequences for those who cross the border unlawfully, CBP saw a 65 percent decrease in southwest border encounters of Venezuelans in the second half of October," Miller said.
Illegal Border Entries by Migrants Along the US-Mexico Border Decreased in General During October
The number of Venezuelans trying to cross the US-Mexico border was not the only big drop, as migrant numbers in general have also gone down, according to the CBP.
READ MORE: Venezuela Orders Arrest of Ousted Opposition Leader Juan Guaido
The Associated Press reported that illegal l border crossings from Mexico fell 14% in October. This ends a three-month streak of big increases in people trying to illegally enter the United States.
In September, there was a record of 218,763 illegal migrants from various nationalities trying to cross. However, this number has since gone down last month, with the arrests for illegal crossings totaling 188,778 for all nationalities in October,
El Salvador Trying To Help Curb Influx of Migrants Into US-Mexico Border
After the US has gotten the cooperation of Venezuela, other countries in Central America are also trying to help deter migrants from other countries from crossing over. This includes Haiti, which stopped flights going to Nicaragua in an effort to halt the exodus of its citizens.'
Over in El Salvador, the country is experiencing an influx of African and Indian travelers. Many of them are using the country as a springboard to the US in the hope of illegally entering the country through the US-Mexico border. However, El Salvador is now clamping down on this amid US pressure to curb migration.
According to the Associated Press, travelers from dozens of countries arriving in El Salvador must now pay a $1,130 fee on arrival. This is seen to deter migrants from trying to trek to the US-Mexico border from the country. However, this fee was described officially as an "airport improvement fee."
READ MORE: Nicaragua Helping Fuel Migrant Crisis by 'Weaponizing' Haitian Migrants as Leverage Against US
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
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